New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-09
FRoa TENEMENT TO FARMHOUSE
PLEA FOR THE WORK or THE TRIBUNE FRESH
AIR FUND.

AIR FUND.
To he Bdifor Of THO Tribune.
, SIR: have sent many children cOnvalesclng from
some acute Illness with your Fresh-Air parties who
have In the two weeks entirely restored to health
and remained during the entire winter One little girl
whom have for three four successive years has
heart disease and each year gains health and strength
enough carry her through the winter One boy last
summer felt very sure would have consumption I'M
less he to the country He back much Inn
proved that with care during tho winter he has been
fully restored to health Our girls who dreadfuly
crammed in school are remarkably benefited by the
change; and you this benefit does not when
these children sent to country institutions They
need the country air and life only to be found at
farmers house and in his family.
The country ia the natural place for children; they
cannot be physically well dcveloped living entirely in
the city, as is shown by the recent examination OF q
dozen boys for the Navy, when not one was found
physically well developed Instances without number OF
the benefit 10 the health OF these children sent TO the
country by THE TRIBUNE could be given. As to the
good that Is done. that beyond computing The
children see n new life in the farm house; they are
taught by the farmers example industry and lo'e for
work which they never In their tenementhouse ex
isence insist upon it there such thing as tene-
menthouse home The boys come back with an intense
desire TO be something better than their fathers have
been-a desire for rooms for more comforts, for
clean clothes One boy OF ten when told by his mother
clothes after school did odd jobs sold papers and bought
calico dresses for mother and two sisters and then
washed them and kept them clean himself
Very many OF my children have denied themselves In
order TO send little Christmas presents to their hosts In
the country. The children owing to their surroundings
AT home are very silent and apparently unappreclat,e
OF the efforts made by their country friends TO entertain
them but little girl Of six years was heard TO say 70
like the one in NewYor." This was OF three or
four children OF widow and she secured pernaneni
hp
man who abused n other children most frghttuliy
until the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
children was appealed to- Another family OF four
children were taken from drunken mother and kept IN
tbe contry the hoy Is now learning become farmer
II the country people could imagine what tenement
house life really means they could appreciate our
anxiety 10 get the children for only two weeks INTO
different atmosphere. house from four to six stories
high. with four families on each moor. elch fanny
windoys either looking out into the dusty, noisy street
or into dirty yard In this one room All the uoiesuc
progresses are carried on, sitting and eating room py
day and sleeping room by night, no pri,acy, indi
Vidual rights-this Is tenement nave yet 10 nnu
child who owns n bureau drawer a shelf IN closet,
or even nail To hang her clothes which does not pc
long I'm common 20 all members oi the FANNY OF !he
boanlers Below Foureenth-st. where about half the
nonnlation live nearly every house contains some kind
OF manufacturing. usually tailoring so that the pror.
dining.room sittingroOm and kitchen Is also by day
and far into the night workshop. The sound or the
everlasting sewing machine IS the last hing hea,n ~
night and the first thing In the morning Inc emaIen .
playground IL the street or the yard, lhel theie ar
many unfortunate who live In rear houses, 70
enter which passes through hhrro" nan way y.
alley into ward always dirty The rooms are as sunless
rs the lives OF their occupants one Is sTnck WIN '9
| extraordinary early maturity Of these niue ones
have babies OF six months TO two years Drought 10 me
daily by boys and girls OF eight to nine years WHO
answer my questions = well as the mothers could.
We have terrible problem before US IN tne tehemenl
receive these little ones aud by their free country life
teach them better things. and do more Ia make thelr
lives a blessing in the two weeks they have them than
the sunday-school teachers can In two years lou
can never teach child that God Is Love III tsh.
menthouse They see only envy, hatred malice ana All
| Observation-Disclosures" Yours truly, >. D. DANIELS-
| Ne,c York, May o, 1887.
| THE foregoing letter was written oy physician
who has selected and examined large number OF
children sent to tho country by THE TRIBUNE
FRESH Air Fund-doubtless a larger number than
| any other one pers0n.-Ed